


FOR THE MEN WHO ARE 
REBUILDING EUROPE 



Number Twenty-one 



Copyright, 1922, by 

The International Committee of 

Young Men's Christian Associations 

Printed in the United States of America 



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FOREWORD 



Our Army on the Rhine, the American Forces in Germany, 
never large, has, during recent months, been so far reduced 
that the little group of men stationed at Coblenz may be 
regarded as a symbol of American life and American ideals 
rather than an instrument of force. In so far as this group of 
Americans has exerted an influence it has been a moral influ- 
ence — indeed we may truly say it belongs to the spirit. Pre- 
cisely for this reason it has been of the utmost importance 
to maintain and enrich those finer instincts and impulses 
which alone qualify these men to interpret what is best in 
our American life to the distressed and embittered nations in 
whose midst they have their temporary abode. 

In selecting the material for this pamphlet it has been our 
purpose to let the men and women who have known the sol- 
diers best tell in their own intimate way the story of their life 
with the men. 

C. V. HIBBARD. 

347 Mp.dison Ave., New York City. 
October 9, 1922. 



THE ARMY ON THE RHINE 

Sept., 1919— June, 1922 

In August, 1919, the Association began to organize a perma- 
nent service for the eight thousand United States troops then 
taking their positions in the German occupied territory. In 
October our troops originally intended for the Silesian plebiscite 
area were also stationed on the Rhine, making a total of sixteen 
thousand. Seventy-two women and fifty-four men were engaged 
in the work at its height, practically all these secretaries having 
been trained by service with the A E F. 

Although in November, 1919, the welfare work for the United 
States army was taken over by the War Department, the Asso- 
ciation was requested to continue in Germany and at a few other 
points until the army welfare service should be well established. 
While the work at the other points was later taken over by the 
army welfare board, that at Coblenz, at the request of the officers, 
has been left in the hands of the Association. The cooperation 
of the army was constant and complete. Whenever suitable 
quarters could be found, buildings were requisitioned for the 
Association. It was always notified ahead of the movements of 
units, that the huts might be ready when the men reached new 
quarters. The Association could always purchase commissary 
supplies; its property was protected; its personnel moved on 
army orders ; transportation on the railroad was free of charge ; 
and gasoline and oil were furnished. 

By order of the commanding officer the welfare work in the 
area was carefully divided. The Salvation Army had three 
points near Coblenz and the work at the disciplinary barracks. 
The Red Cross had a hut at the hospital. The ALA continued 
to administrate its great library. All other welfare work for the 
soldiers was placed in the hands of the Association. The area 
held by our troops was described by a radius of thirty kilometers 
with Coblenz as a center and with one point, Kreuzberg, some 
sixty kilometers from Coblenz. About eighteen huts, with roll- 
ing canteen service to outlying detachments, were required to 
serve the area, including a center in the army base at Antwerp, 
a small hut at the docks, and, for a short time, a hut at Romagne 
for the Graves Registration Service. 

One aim of the Association and the desire of the officers was 
to give these young soldiers as much as possible of American life 



and to this end it became necessary to carry on a large business 
plant, providing equipment that could not be purchased in a foreign 
country nor brought from America except at delay and great ex- 
pense. It thus came about that the Association manufactured for 
itself all manner of supplies, ranging from layer cakes to piston 
pins, and became business manager of an ice-cream plant, two 
bakeries, a machine shop, and carpentry, painting, and upholstery 
establishments. The definite educational work for the soldiers 
is now in the hands of the army, but the Association still found 
opportunity for service of this nature, through the library, lec- 
tures, entertainments, and the bulletin boards. 

A Laboratory 

In so complicated and swiftly changing a task as that with 
the A F G, it is impossible to give more than an anecdote here 
and there that may show the difficulties and discouragements of 
the work, the satisfactions that the workers themselves found, 
some notion of the possible results to the soldiers, and those 
features in which it differed from both the w^ar and the former 
peace service to our troops. 

The funds to meet practically all the wishes of the army and 
to supply to the workers all the necessary equipment are seldom 
forthcoming as they were in this closing piece of work for our 
army of the Great War. This in itself gave a freedom to the 
staff and allowed them to devote themselves in a fashion not often 
possible to what seemed to them the essentials. The situation of 
the soldiers themselves was extraordinary. Most of them young 
for army life, and utterly unwonted to its discipline, they were 
surrounded by people technically enemies but toward whom they 
had no personal animosity. Their pay was beyond the dreams 
of the British and French troops to either side of them, while the 
safeguards of the days of the AEF — the insurance, the home 
allotment, the free remittance — were all removed, and the falling 
rate of the mark raised their money to fantastic values. Although 
drill was stiff, and the whole army was kept at top notch of con- 
dition, and study in the post schools was for the less advanced 
obligatory, yet there was much free time and no sense of respon- 
sibility or danger to steady these thousands of lads. Such was 
the condition confronting the Association, a condition fraught 
with dangers and discouragements not evident to the visitor who 
saw only the well set up soldiers, the smoothly running machinery, 
the eager and busy men and women of the Association staff. 

In some of its features this adventure in welfare work will 
probably never be duplicated, but from an experiment carried out 



under such favorable conditions there must be lessons of practical 
value for all those engaged in any sort of effort for the well being 
of homeless men. 

Two Letters 

[The following letters of General Allen and Colonel Peek 
are taken from many such commendations sent to the Coblenz 
headquarters, and have been selected because they express the 
aim in the minds of the Association staff throughout all the varied 
activities of the organization.] 

My Dear Mr. Sprenger : 

I have had occasion several times to write letters to you and 
to officials of the Young Men's Christian Association serving un- 
der you expressing my satisfaction in the work performed by 
that organization. 

The Association on duty with the American Forces in Ger- 
many is performing a great work. Only those who are intimately 
connected with these forces can realize the great service this 
organization is rendering. I have seen welfare organizations 
working under all sorts of conditions in France during actual 
operations; after the armistice, with the Third Army of Occupa- 
tion in Germany; and with the present American Forces in 
Germany. We all recognize that nothing is absolutely perfect. 
Some things approach the degree of perfection closer than others. 
It is natural that there were a great number of mistakes during 
the World War and immediately thereafter. Mistakes were made 
in all organizations, including the army, navy, and others. Those 
in authority have seen a great number of these mistakes; they 
have been corrected in the military service as well as in the welfare 
service. Today the Association with the American Forces in 
Germany is a smooth-running machine. Kinks have been ironed 
out and as stated above it is performing a most efficient service. 

It is impossible for the American soldier to find among the 
entertainments and amusements offered him by the civilians of the 
occupied area those entertainments and amusements which he is 
used to in his native country. The language and ideas are entirely 
different. In order to keep this soldier contented, raise his morale 
and that of the entire command, and increase his efficiency, it is 
necessary to place within his reach entertainments and amuse- 
ments which he is used to in his own country. The Association 
has accomplished this in an excellent manner. Within the numer- 
ous huts throughout the American area everything has been 
offered the soldier from grand opera to vaudeville. Excellent 



canteen service is furnished him and he is able to see and talk with 
women from his own country. 

It is my firm belief, and in expressing this I am also express- 
ing the ideas of the commanding general, that the operation of 
the Young Men's Christian Association with the American Forces 
in Germany is the most efficient way of handling welfare organ- 
izations in the American army. 
Sincerely, 

G. M. Peek, 

A. C. of S., for Operations, A F G. 

My Dear Mr. Sprenger : 

As you are about to start for the United States for a confer- 
ence of the Young Men's Christian Association, at which possibly 
you may be expected to make an account of your stewardship on 
the Rhine, I would like to have you express to this conference of 
leaders my sincerest appreciation of what has been accomplished 
under you for the welfare of our soldiers. 

I should state that the organization of the Association here 
is a wholesome result of evolution, and it works with all the units 
of the American Forces in Germany in such complete accord and 
harmony that nothing better is to be desired in this respect. I 
am of the opinion that soldier welfare work has never before 
reached the present high standard maintained here. 

The effect of the operation of the Association activities in 
the American zone has had and continues to have a highly bene- 
ficial influence on the morale and discipline of this command, and 
I should deeply regret to learn that any radical changes were 
contemplated. 

Very truly yours, 

Henry T. Allen 

Commanding General A F G. 

PLAY FOR ALL 

No sooner had the veterans of the Third Army unlimbered 
their packs after the chase to Sedan and thence to their perma- 
nent billets in Coblenz than they demanded more fighting — the 
friendly but hotly contested combats of ring and "gym" and field. 

By July, 1919, when the American Forces in Germany were 
created, the organization of sport under the combined supervision 
of the army and the Association had attained a scope and degree 
of perfection which embraced the interest of every officer and 



enlisted man and found expression in practically every form of 
active exercise. Major General Henry T. Allen, commanding 
the A F G, was ever ready to lend his support and encouragement 
to the principle that the morale of an army is effectively rein- 
forced through healthful recreation. 

A carefully planned organization was essential for play needs 
of the more than 15,000 m.en in the Army of Occupation in its 
early days. At the head of the athletic work of the A F G was 
the chief of the war plans and training section. By his direction 
the athletic activities functioned under the supervision of the 
chief athletic officer. The Association's athletic department oper- 
ated under this section, and its athletic director had charge of the 
technical operation of athletics under the supervision of the chief 
athletic officer, who coordinated the sports schedules to the mili- 
tary training schedules and policies. 

All equipment issued and all moneys spent by the athletic 
department were authorized by both the chief athletic officer and 
the Association's auditor, and every effort was made to conserve 
the available funds. So far as possible, committees were formed 
to decide on the merits of protests and to institute local rulings 
in the matter of competitions. Athletic schedules were planned 
to conform to the policy of providing athletic recreation for every 
one connected with the A F G. This was done by two methods : 
first by providing a large variety of standard and specialized 
sports, so that every officer and enlisted man had an opportunity 
to engage in his favorite pastime, and second by operating a mass 
game schedule in connection with the regular military training 
schedules. Detailed records of activities and participants indicate 
that about ninety per cent of the entire enlisted force were reached 
by this system. 

But statistics cannot indicate the full place of athletic compe- 
tition and mass games in the life of the individual soldier of the 
A F G. Tlie opportunities they offered were not merely for the 
practiced athlete but equally for the boy who had not yet learned 
how to play or to compete. The development of league organi- 
zations, progressively representing companies, battalions, and 
regiments, brought officers and enlisted men together both as team 
mates and as competitors — an interesting demonstration of democ- 
racy and of the fact that discipline, which remained undisturbed, 
embraces in its philosophy no small element of good sportsman- 
ship. 

The ''Best Yank" competitions, conceived and organized by 
the athletic director of the Association, developed a surprising 
number of all-round capable athletes from both rank and file. 



Brigade, regimental, and company athletic officers, reporting 
to the chief athletic officer, were responsible for athletics in their 
respective units and worked in cooperation with the athletic di- 
rectors appointed by the Association. The matter of printing, 
schedule making, the furnishing of equipment — which averaged 
close to $6,000 every month — the supplying of officials, trans- 
portation to games, trophies for all events, and the large force 
of German laborers necessary to keep grounds in order are a 
few of the hundred of items involved in the task of giving to the 
soldier the chance to play. 

In Coblenz athletics were concentrated at three centers — 
Carnival Island, the "Y" Athletic Club, and the swimming pool. 
The athletic grounds located at Carnival Island are as complete 
as any on this side of the Atlantic, being laid out with the same 
care and skill as that given to our university fields. The army 
solved the labor problem incident to this project and the equipment 
was supplied by the Association. The city of Coblenz was so 
interested by the possibilities of this superb playground that it 
gave twenty thousand marks towards the building. There are 
two cinder tracks, one with a circumference of a sixth of a mile 
and used for horse shows, the other being an oval four hundred 
and forty meters with a straightaway two hundred meters in 
length. The baseball diamond is of big-league perfection, and the 
football fields — one for soccer and the other for rugby — are mod- 
els of their kind. Around three of the fields are bleachers and 
grandstands for the use of spectators, and a club house with baths 
arranged for the convenience of the players. 

To the doughboy with his enthusiasm for boxing, the *'Y" 
Athletic Club will remain in a niche apart among his memories of 
the Rhineland. Prior to May, 1919, this building, without archi- 
tectural pretensions, but possessed of ample size for big events, 
was known as Liberty Hut, and was used for general social and 
welfare activities, such as lectures, moving pictures, and enter- 
tainments. Boxing bouts were at first conducted in the Festhalle, 
but owing to the unsuitability of this building for such shows, 
Liberty Hut was turned over to the athletic department and was 
gradually transformed until it eventually became the center in the 
Coblenz area for indoor athletic activities. An indoor track was 
installed so that the track enthusiasts might have their winter 
training and competitions. Within its wooden walls were held 
all the army indoor track meets and here were staged the cham- 
pionship boxing and wrestling bouts of the American forces. 

The indoor plunge at Coblenz was operated by the Associa- 
tion from the beginning of the occupation period. Although of 



moderate size, it supplied the needs of thousands of men and 
women in the area and contributed thrilling chapters in the 
athletic history of the A F G, for here records were made and 
meets were won and lost. 

Though these were the three largest sport centers, there 
were many additional fields maintained and completely equipped 
by the Association. There were baseball diamonds, football fields, 
and basketball courts at Mayen and Andernach, a summer swim- 
ming pool in the Mosel River, a twelve hole golf course on Con- 
stantine Hill. The forty-two tennis courts in the area were kept 
in good playing condition. 

Sons of the officers and men in the AFG were not over- 
looked. A civilian Boy Scout leader was furnished and the 
youngsters were provided with what was needed to give them 
the outdoor fun and activity to which they were accustomed in 
the States. 

One of the most useful features of all this athletic activity 
was the development of meets between the troops of the different 
nations occupying German territory. With the hearty coopera- 
tion of the army, the Association invited the athletes of the Allied 
armies on the Rhine to enter into competition in all branches of 
sport. French, English, and Belgian army commands quickly rec- 
ognized the gain in friendly relationships to be had in this inter- 
mingling on the athletic field. Inter-army contests became pop- 
ular ; back and forth the athletes journeyed, ever fighting hard 
to uphold the prowess of their respective nations, but constantly 
maintaining the highest standards of clean play, good fellowship, 
and warm hospitality. Racial differences of thought, manners, 
and customs were better understood and adjusted; petty irrita- 
tions gave way to loyal friendships which could have been formed 
in no other way. 

Many of these contests assumed huge proportions, notably 
the Armies of Occupation Track and Field Championships held 
at Carnival Island for three days in July, 1921. This meet was 
by far the largest and most successful ever conducted by the Allied 
forces in the occupied territory and, among Allied competitions, 
ranked second only to the Inter-Allied Games of 1919 in Paris. 
Besides the track and field events, the program included tennis, 
swimming, boxing, soccer football, basketball, and a ten thousand 
meter cross-country run. 

The physical directors of the Association had been charged 
by the army with complete authority in the conduct of the games 
program. Quite beyond the burden of detail carried in the task 
of providing the material side of such recreations to an army in a 



foreign land, was the responsibility of keeping these activities free 
from all taint of commercialization, betting and poor sportsman- 
ship. These obvious traits that creep in so easily and soon destroy 
the morale which clean sport aims to cultivate, never secured the 
slightest hold in the members of the A F G. As they fought to win, 
so did they play to win — ^^by fair means only — accepting defeat with 
good grace and a determination to come through winners next 
time. It is of this record, which will long stand as a model for 
promotion of sport in armies, that the physical directors are most 
proud, and which the Association counts their great success. 

THRIFT AT COBLENZ 

The last place in which one would have looked for economy 
reduced to a science was surely among the Americans connected 
with the army in the area about Coblenz. Their money was 
supplied in United States currency and spent in depreciated Ger- 
man marks, a situation not calculated to make one count pfennigs, 
but if anyone thinks that only Germans practiced thrift, he should 
have spent a morning at the Association garage in the Fischel 
Strasse. 

When the war work secretary assigned to the motor trans- 
port department looked over the cars that were to serve the A F G 
he found eighty-four old war horses, of which six might by 
courtesy be called in order. They were a battered lot, used up in 
service for the A E F, needing about everything that cars can 
need. Moreover, little to mend them with was to be found just 
then outside of the United States. 

Out of these wrecks he and his staff evolved some sixty 
serviceable cars, triumphs of the art of making-over, and various 
impertinent improvements on "Henry" made these Fords seem 
the foster children of the Association shop. They were made 
up of parts of many. Every bit of metal, bronze, brass, and steel 
was saved, dealt with in the foundry and smithy and the welding 
shop, and reappeared in the form of parts constantly needed for 
repair or replacement. When a motor showed signs of debility, 
it was sent to the rebuilding department and completely made 
over. When a disabled car rolled into the "trouble room" it was 
not just a disabled car, it was an individual, a friend, with a 
record in the card index of all its adventures and achievements 
and drivers as complete as though it were a patient at the base 
hospital. 

Across from the forge there came out from the shop wall 
the long pipe of the air compressor, a contrivance the fame of 

10 



which spread swiftly throughout the ranks of the army truck 
drivers. It was an ingenious arrangement whereby an old Ford 
motor, a cooling tank, and a few feet of pipe, when connected 
with the ten horse power motor of the plant, did away with the 
pumping of tires by hand. But the pride of the shop was the 
busy saw-mill, such a mill as would have made lumberers laugh 
aloud. When the Association tried to engage its supply of wood 
it was found that the one portable saw-mill within reach was of a 
price corresponding to its rarity. In two days the machinists 
had set a rejuvenated Ford motor, waiting in the reserve room, to 
turning a circular saw. Thereafter in odds and ends of time the 
men would start it humming and the wood pile that meant warm 
stoves and hearth fires in the huts was always high. In a year 
this outfit earned 31,200 marks, a fair return on the investment 
of two days* labor in installation, and the price of a circular saw. 
Carpentry and paint shops, a warehouse, and an ice-cream 
plant of the most approved pattern stood within this Association 
inclosure, but these dealt largely with new goods and so were less 
striking examples of what we like to call Yankee ingenuity than 
the machine shops which were practically all constructed of made- 
overs and whose sole business was making something new out of 
discards. The veriest novice, as he saw the work of this inventive 
secretary and his staff, caught something of the fascination of 
machinery and of what someone has called the "romance of thrift." 

BOOKS AND PICTURES 

The Schools 

Formal school work in the army is now under the officers 
themselves. This, however, had not been organized for the A F G 
in September, 1919, and so the educational department of the 
Association opened three schools for the army. The first of these 
was short-lived— a night school conducted until Christmas and 
then reopened under the army until the organization of the general 
and commercial school was completed in March, 1920. The edu- 
cational director for the Association became for several months 
the director of the general and commercial school, and formulated 
the plan for instruction in this and the unit schools. The courses 
of study laid out for these schools and the textbooks selected by 
the Association staif, were still in use at the close of the school 
in 1922. The school for American children was a unique under- 
taking, begun at the special request of the officers, who could at 
the time see no way of arranging for the proper education of their 
children. When at the termination of two years it was decided 

11 



that the maintenance of the school was more than should be car- 
ried by the Association, a well-equipped school building with 
texts for the children's use, pictures, American blackboards and 
decorations, were loaned to the army school committee and so 
was made possible the maintenance of the school for the last year. 
Thousands of easy German pamphlets were distributed by the 
educational department to recruits and replacements. Lectures 
were given at the main library. Three minute write-ups on cur- 
rent topics were prepared for use between the movie reels, and 
pamphlets were printed and distributed for all the great festival 
days of the year. 

A Reformed Clubhouse 

The army library was housed in what had been the club for 
the officers of the proud 8th Army Corps. The doughboys made 
themselves perfectly at home on the sofas and easy chairs and at 
the beautiful oak tables bought specially for Prussian officers, and 
they were amiably indifferent to the Prussian eagle and the Ho- 
henzollern insignia looking down on them from wall and window. 

The American Library Association continued till the close 
of 1920 to maintain this library of 35,000 volumes which had 
been collected in Coblenz for the A E F. When it was obliged 
to relinquish this work it made a gift of the books to the army, 
but the army being unable to take over the expense and labor of 
maintenance, this was assumed by the Association. Branch li- 
braries were opened in every hut, save at a few points where they 
were maintained under army detail. Through the efforts of the 
Association many current books were added and magazines were 
provided for all the huts and after use in the huts were gathered 
and sent to Antwerp for the transports. The central library at 
Coblenz was open every afternoon and evening to all Americans 
and Allies in the area, about two hundred soldiers and half as 
many civilians using it daily. In the mornings it was open for 
the soldier-teachers of the army schools. 

Desk Happenings 

Not long ago a soldier surprised the desk attendant at the 
main library. **Say, don't you have any of Plato*s works?" A 
search brought to lig'ht one lone volume. Later the librarian 
explained, "Oh, he's one of our steady readers. He never reads 
anything but psychology and philosophy or books of that nature. 
He now wants to read Aristotle and we are trying to make an 
exchange with the Paris library for him." 

12 



The month when the men were returning to the States 
brought requests for information on many and varied subjects. 
Books on etiquette became popular. The men frankly said that 
they had forgotten what they once knew about social customs and 
that they wanted to "brush up on the subject" before going back. 
One afternoon an officer came in looking for books on poisonous 
plants. It seems that some of the army mules had been poisoned 
supposedly from eating yew. He wanted to verify this supposi- 
tion. A man who was taking advantage of the rate of exchange 
to get a microscopic outfit came for a book on microscopy. This 
was one of those few requests that could not be filled. The court 
of last resort in this, as in all such instances, was the encyclope- 
dias, and of course they did not circulate. 

"Hello, Nick !" Two army sergeants had met in front of the 
issue desk. From the number of "hash marks" on their sleeves 
one saw that they were old timers. "You see," one explained, "his 
last name is Carter and I can't help but finish it out." The other 
said : "We've known each other for a good many years. I suc- 
ceeded him in a post among the Moros away oflf in the Philippines 
nineteen years ago." They say that hard-boiled army men do not 
read our books, but both those men were among our most constant 
readers. 

In one of the post libraries the soldier in charge was en- 
thusiastic in keeping all matters of detail in the best possible 
shape. Quite unlearned, he paid the most careful attention to the 
mechanics of his work and he possessed a lively sense of justice. 
One day he arrived in Coblenz with a few of his most popular 
books that were badly in need of first aid. Upon securing his 
patched-up best circulators he timidly inquired if he couldn't get 
some new books. "You see I've gone through that there library 
and I've made an alphabetical list of everything in it. It's a 
funny thing but there ain't more than two or three that commence 
with E. I'd like to have a few more that begin with that letter. 
That's a big library and a library like that ought to have more 
books beginning with E, don't you think so?" 

One secretary told the librarian that there was no use in 
having books sent to her hut unless strict attention were given to 
the matter of binding. "Any color so it's red," said the secretary, 
"and the redder the better. It doesn't seem to make much differ- 
ence what's inside." In making a distribution of new books, 
therefore, the majority of the books sent to this hut were bound 
in red, and all were gone within fifteen minutes after their 
arrival. 

13 



At the Base Hospital ' 

Somehow I have always felt that bridges are among the live 
things of the world. They carry you from the spot where you 
are to the one where you long to be. It may be a drawbridge 
from an outside world over a moat into a castle of long ago ; or 
it may be a rope ladder from cliff to cHff for the adventurer ; or 
it may be a Westminster Bridge with the Abbey at its foot; or 
perhaps it is only a plank or log thrown over a brook that carries 
one to meadows where the flowers are more vivid than on the 
prosy highway. Now all of these may a book be. We at the 
hospital feel that the mission of the library has not been so much 
to minister to those who have wanted books and whose tastes 
have been formed, for these would have managed to get books for 
themselves, but to serve those who have never had even a speaking 
acquaintance with books. So the daily progress of our little book 
wagon through the wards was slow — just as slow as the working 
of an unwilHng mind. Usually a boy was jollied into taking two 
books. It was often more of a joke than a choice, but he was sure 
to read a bit and then, of course, to come back for more. 

There were many instances so funny that one wanted to 
laugh, and so pathetic one found the heart puckered up as one 
realized how starved and meagre a life some of these men lived. 
There was the orderly whose entrance into the hut before he went 
on duty each night was like a whirlwind. "Hope to tell you I 
beat the world for noise ; I'm broke out with it. Say, I gotta get 
that book back again. Yes, I had it last week, but you can't 
expect a fellow to get the hull of a book the first time reading. 
Don't you know I never read a book through till last month? I 
guess you just better put me down at the head of that reserve 
list. I'm some Httle reader, I am." When he first appeared he 
had never drawn a book. His first was cartoons, Crosbie's 
"Rookie of the 13th Squad"; his second, Brigg's "Oh, Skinny"; 
his third, Bairnsfather's "Fragments from France" ; and then he 
launched forth on adventure stories. 

Another went oflF by himself and solemnly sat down with his 
pencil to tick off the lines while he read his first — one of Zane 
Grey's. I've often wondered if that author has any idea of the 
extent of the door he has swung open for many to pass through 
and beyond. That boy with the pencil never tired of being read 
to and his favorite was "A Man Without a Country." He came 
back to the hospital months after his accident and demanded the 
story again. He had made a pretty long journey since his intro- 
duction to "Wildfire." Zane Grey, indeed, is the one author who 

14 



can hold a man just coming back to the world after an operation. 
We always kept one of his stories in reserve to read aloud when- 
ever the nurses asked for help with some patient who had wakened 
to intense suffering. 

Among our '"firsts" was a man who met his first "Outlook" 
at the hospital and this sent him to the atlas, then to the histories, 
and lastly to encyclopedias. The research ended in a long 
study of the World Almanac and the remark to another patient, 
**Now, if you really want to know what France is doing and why 
she is doing what she is, 3^ou just better read the 'Outlook' and 
you'll know a lot you don't know now." 

We must not leave the impression that most of the A F G 
was illiterate — far from it. But the ready readers were not our 
problem. The tastes of our patrons were catholic : They ranged 
from the "Argosy" to the "Atlantic" : from the "Dark Mirror" to 
Emerson's essays and touched most of the points between. One 
of our greatest pleasures was to serve the nurses. They were 
great readers, particularly those on night duty, who averaged a 
book a night, and some of them kept us busy trying to find stiff 
enough reading for them. Through one of our friends we were 
supplied with the newspaper funny sheets, and unless one has car- 
ried these into a sick ward he can know nothing of what giving 
really is. I blush now when I think of the petitions I signed back in 
the States, petitions to have these funny papers made more fit, to 
make them suitable to be put into children's hands. In all my hos- 
pital experience I recall but two instances where men were too 
sick to hold out their hands for them. One man, just emerging 
from the ether sleep, saw the sheets in my hands as I talked to 
another patient, motioned to me to come closer and whispered, 
"I want a funny. Save a funny for me." He got his funny and 
dozed off again, his treasure tightly clutched. 

Discovering the Bulletin Board 

''Who's Who and Why?" This was the question in colored 
letters that jumped at the visitor from the center of a bulletin 
board in one of the soldier huts. The large board was filled by 
perhaps a dozen familiar faces, such as Pope Pius XI and John 
Burroughs, Petain and Hughes. For the week it was on view 
there was more talk of public men than ever before in that hut. 

Of course bulletin boards are nothing new. The librarians 
of children's book rooms have long been enticing youngsters to- 
ward the classics by means of picture boards. The makers of the 
boards for the soldier huts in Germany pretend to nothing more 
than the adaptation of an old idea, but the novelty of this adapta- 

15 



tion makes a story worth the telling to Association secretaries and 
to other social service workers. 

Why should the billboard and the full page advertisement 
be limited to such matters as pumps and breakfast food? The 
presentation of a tire that persuades men to buy it is worth a 
fortune to the manufacturer. Why not present ideas as well as 
things? Churches, settlements, clubs, community centers, Boy 
Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Young Men's and Young Women's 
Christian Associations, all such organizations are working for 
definite returns though returns not to be measured by money. 
They strive for greater culture, nobler thought, more righteous 
living. Time was when such matters were thought to be ade- 
quately dealt with by preachers and teachers, but these now have 
rivals who outdo them in constancy and attraction. The pictorial 
daily and the movies work seven days a week and one must be 
constant and clever to keep up with them. 

The hut secretaries of the A F G chatting daily with the 
soldiers, meeting constantly problems of morale, striving in all 
they did to waken interest in worth-while matters, found plenty 
of topics that lent themselves naturally to the billboard. It could 
be used to turn attention to current affairs ; to teach the meaning 
of the holidays; to meet existing interests and carry them into 
fields worth exploring ; to humanize geography ; to pique curiosity 
as to the places men might visit on leave ; to acquaint them with 
artists, writers, musicians, statesmen — folk who have made the 
world richer by having lived in it. 

But to be worth while a board need not be highbrow. In fact 
it must never be highbrow. There was a board of extraordinary 
popularity in the A F G, "Girls of All Lands." The soldiers ad- 
mired them all with due chivalry but they voted the American 
girl the best of the lot. Then there was "Being a Boy." Funny 
papers and magazine covers mostly went to its making, and the 
grouchiest sergeant was bound to feel more cheerful after a study 
of these delightful, troublesome, absurd youngsters doing all the 
absurd things boys always do. **Say, fellows, it's dogs," called 
the soldier who had stopped before the new board at the top of 
the Festhalle staircase. Probably not a soldier of all the hundreds 
that entered the great amusement building at Coblenz that week 
failed to stop and smile before that collection. Every sort of dog 
was there except unhappy ones, and the men studied it, and 
laughed, and went away to tell one another stories of the pets that 
had companioned their boyhood. 

A request from an understanding officer led to a series of 
boards on places of interest within short leave distance of Co- 

16 



blenz — the Bavarian Alps in the region of Oberammergau for in- 
stance, familiar from a lecture on the Passion Play that was 
popular in all the huts. The Rothenberg board was headed by a 
photograph that showed two American soldiers looking from a 
height over its broken roofs. The Nuremburg board bore in 
illuminated letters the following verses : 

Here, when art was still religion, 

With a simple reverent heart 
Lived and labored Albrecht Durer 

The evangelist of art. 

Here Hans Sachs, the cobbler poet, 

Laureat at the gentle craft, 
Wisest of the Twelve Wise Masters 

In huge folios, sang and laughed. 

This verse, of course, led to no end of questions and to a 
Durer board. 

There were visitors from Poland in the area and shortly there 
went the rounds of the huts a board made from the gay friezes 
that are known to Polish nurseries. These showed the native 
dress and customs and between the pictures ran the legend, "Peas- 
ant Life in Poland, the homeland of Chopin, Paderewski, and 
Mme. Curie." Here again were suggestions for the hut musicians, 
for the chat in the cafeteria, for the next board. 

The board had a great function on the holidays. Here came 
the chance to discover among the men artists who could make 
decorative borders or perhaps the whole design for Christmas or 
Easter. Often the men brought in photographs and post cards, 
treasure trove from their furloughs, some of these very beautiful, 
and a board made by one of their own number was of immense 
interest and pride to the unit. 

Such a plan of silent teaching is not to be carried out with- 
out broad knowledge and an understanding of the other fellow's 
point of view in the first place. The possibilities are great but 
such boards are nothing if they are not prepared with the same 
care and intelligence which the real teacher gives to preparation 
for his class and the speaker to preparation for his audience. 

HUTS AS SOLDIERS SEE THEM 

How will the men look back on the Weissenthurm hut we 
wonder? Many of them we are sure had never seen such an ideal 
place in their wandering days. Did they appreciate the cunning 

17 



parchment shades, the Dresden plates, the brass candlesticks, the 
wonderful shade of blue in the cloth of the upholstery, the dainty 
design of the curtains, not to mention the prints all so carefully 
chosen and placed ? Did it mean anything to them ? How much 
is it interwoven with development in their lives? 



It is a good thing that our iniiuence and the results of our 
work do not depend entirely on material things. If they did our 
work would fall far short. The other evening, a sergeant, who 
with four others has recently been transferred to this organiza- 
tion, said, "By golly! I don't know why we come to this 'Y' 
every night. You haven't much of a place, but you've got 'beau- 
coup' atmosphere all right. Just guess that's the reason, for we 
are certainly surprised to find ourselves here all the time." 



The enthusiasm of the men at the reopening of the huts after 
maneuvers has been very gratifying. This has been perhaps the 
more noticeable among those who had remained at the post than 
among the men who had gone on maneuvers. It was notably the 
case at Metternich. Here a number of men had shown an un- 
friendly spirit on account of the exclusion of German "frauleins" 
and the enforcement of the order against smoking during movies 
and entertainments. This prejudice has now been overcome and 
the men are all friendly towards the "Y." 



These are the closing days at Mulheim and the attitude of 
the men is an immense satisfaction. It makes one think of 
A E F days. They use the hut all their free time. They read or 
play cards, talk, play pool, or sometimes just sit and think, perhaps 
doze, for many of them work hard and are tired. And no matter 
where the *'Y" woman worker is sitting, at the reading table 
maybe making out cards for delinquent readers, she finds pres- 
ently four or five of the men sitting near her, to entertain or be 
entertained. One man the other evening who had been half rest- 
ing, half dreaming before the fire said : "This is like home. I 
wish we could have more rainy evenings. I like to think of all 
the pleasant winter evenings our other 'Y' girls and the soldiers 
have had before this fire." 



It was quite late. The men had gone home early for they 
stood bed check at nine, so I was walking alone down camp to 
'phone Coblenz. Half way down I met a soldier on the road, to 
my amazement a man I had known in Ehrenbreitstein. He had 
come all the way out to Wehr just to see me, he said, because it 



18 



was "Mother's Day," and I had made the "Y" seem so like a 
home to him, the only home he had known for a long time. I 
finished my telephoning and we went back to the *'Y" and then I 
found out why that fat, soft desk-soldier, for he does paper work 
somewhere at Headquarters now, had walked all the way from 
Brohl, all up-hill too, to find little Wehr. He asked in a tone that 
tried to be casual if I had seen the Sunday paper. It had been a 
busy day and I had not, and then he had to tell me. The pictures 
of all the men in the A F G who wear the D. S. C. were printed 
and he was among them, and he had w^anted to tell someone who 
was "his family." He was like a little boy taking some dear prize 
to his mother. He told me how he won the cross, then played 
some of his beautiful music, and then I filled his pockets with 
cookies and he set out on the long hike over the hills to Ander- 
nach. 



We have fitted up a little corner of the reading room with 
bright pillow^s, plants, a table with sewing basket, and a bird which 
sings, and it proves a favorite sitting room for the boys, one of 
whom voiced a significant observation when he said, "I don't like 
that corner — it makes me homesick." 



There are a few soldiers who see the great thing we are 
attempting to do and comment upon it; others look at the hut 
only for its material advantages. One man, expressing in his own 
way his appreciation, said, "I'm glad we've got a 'Y' here. It's 
such a handy thing ! No matter what you want the 'Y's always 
got it." They depend upon us for everything they need, great or 
small, and take it for granted that they will always find it. One 
soldier burst in upon me this morning with "Oh, Bobbie, have 
you got any fishhooks ? Give me two !" I couldn't supply the 
fishhooks but that his faith in Aladdin's lamp might not be shaken 
I took him to a near-by store and purchased them for him. This 
faith the soldiers have that we will never fail them, their splendid 
attitude while in the hut, their almost jealous protection of their 
"Y" girl make the work with them a continuous pleasure. 



There is not a man in the company now who does not use 
the "Y" to some extent and many are in every day. More men 
have used the canteen this month than ever before. They are 
always bringing us pets, our latest being a dignified duck called 
"Pops." The men take "Pops" down to the river for a daily swim 
and the German population is much interested in the spectacle 
of American soldiers driving a large duck through the streets. 

19 



The men are good about helping. They have even been known 
to hem our aprons ! When the hut opened the Germans in the 
village said it was useless as the men would never come, that 
they would rather drink in the cafes. Now they say they cannot 
understand why the soldiers stay in the "Y." **Why, they seem 
to think it's their home!" 



"Yes," said an engineer looking up from his book, *T've been 
here since we marched in from France, and anybody who said 
anything against this *Y' would kick about his own home. It has 
always been open and comfortable and a fellow has always been 
welcome." This remark ignited a lad with 16th Engineer in- 
signia who sat opposite. This is the company which has just 
come down from Kreuzberg and each man is certain that their 
secretary is the very finest woman who ever wore the blue and 
grey uniform, and that her hut was the most homelike of any 
in the A F G. At the slightest opportunity they explode, and 
"tell the world." "Lady," said this boy sympathetically, "I hate 
to say anything against your hut, but our little *Y' had it all over 
this big place." 



In the big recreation room a fire blazes on the hearth. In 
easy chairs or stretched out on the cushioned benches a dozen 
soldiers are poring over the newly arrived magazines. A table 
of pinochle players and another of bridge are bidding and over- 
bidding each other with much amusing by-play. A man from the 
doorway calls out "Doug Fairbanks reel tonight" and then a 
contented silence settles over the room. Resolved not to break 
the quiet, a blessed relief to these men from noisy barracks, I sit 
sewing in the corner. The rain beats against the windows, the fire 
crackles, the canaries sing a bit, the black kitten frisks about 
teasing some of her special friends, but there is no other sound 
until suddenly the cuckoo clock strikes five and we are startled 
to realize that a whole hour has gone by in silence. 

Such is a typical afternoon at Infantry. Not so long ago 
there were fifteen hundred men in the compound and the hut 
resembled nothing so much as a humming beehive. The rooms 
were full and a line of soldiers waited before the canteen counter. 
The "Y" women on duty were busy from morning till night, but 
amid all the infinite detail of cooking and housekeeping and busi- 
ness they created a friendly atmosphere and the men felt the hut 
was their home. Now there are less than three hundred men in 
the compound, and they are to leave for the States next month. 
As is always the case before a "Y" closes, the soldiers suddenly 

20 



realize how much it has meant to them, and they hover about 
saying "Gee, we sure have enjoyed this place," and "Say, aren't 
we going to have a *Y' in the States ?" 

SOLDIERS AS SECRETARIES SEE THEM 

On the whole, their spirit is splendid and we feel improves 
with every passing month. However, they have not attained 
perfection by any means. One annoying feature of our movies 
has always been the impatience and irritability of the audience 
when the film breaks or is blurred. Recently we had a film with 
several feet indistinguishable just at the climax of the picture. 
The boys took their usual attitude that it was the operator's or 
our fault, and the shouting and whistling in the room became so 
great that we stopped the picture and sent the boys downstairs. 
They took their punishment like majors, even applauding our 
action, and since then when the film has broken or been otherwise 
imperfect there has not been a murmur in the room. 



Just now we have, perforce, a very select family, for only 
men with first or second class conduct cards can use the hut. So 
many of the third class conduct card men used the hut as an 
excuse to slip off down town that about ten days ago we were 
put oflF limits for one evening for everybody and permanently 
for pink passes. Sad as it is that we cannot minister to all alike 
— white cards and pink — the sheep and the goats — it is really 
rather a pleasant experience for once to have just the steadier 
citizens around. One really has time to know the quiet and good 
men, who in a larger group are so often lost to view because the 
noisier and often more worthless element make so many more 
demands. In this connection I have recently come to the con- 
clusion that there must be something superior about a mule. 
Otherwise how can you account for the peculiar charm possessed 
by many mule-skinners? In part it may be that they are all 
country-bred men. Anyway, it is the quiet-eyed, slow-moving, 
chequer-playing mule drivers whose conduct cards now let them 
come to the hut. 



Prize-fighters was the subject under consideration. Becky, 
sitting in the midst of many soldiers, volunteered the information 
that she had never known any at home. Instantly two spoke up. 
That was their profession in civilian life. We found we had 
many. The nice boy who had such pleasing manners and always 
treated about five fellows, was "Delaware Jack." The soldier 

21 



who patiently practiced with one hand day after day on our piano 
was **Mike, the pugiHst." The rough youngster with six gold 
teeth, all in front was *'The Kid," and there were others. 

One of our staunchest "Y" friends astounded us one day by 
saying, "Leavenworth is not such a bad place. I did thirty-six 
months there, and three years in Alcatraz. Learned my trade of 
painting there. How'd I get there? Oh, booze and A. W. O. L. 
and trouble with an officer. I started in to work when I was 
ten, on my own." 

One had been a "moonshiner" and he just didn't get caught 
and that was all. Another had a narrow escape in selling drugs. 
Many are young boys with army ages and home ages, probably 
about seventeen in reality. Life called to them and the army 
slogan, "Enlist for Germany," seemed the answer. 



"I want a good book on history," said a soldier who dropped 
in at the hospital library one afternoon. "You like good books, 
don't you?" asked the librarian when she had found something 
for him. He explained his views on reading. "Now you know 
that my brother is much smarter than I am and a much better 
business man, but somehow he doesn't get half the fun out of 
each day that I do. He came over here last year and took me on 
a trip over Europe at his expense. But a cathedral or a castle 
to him was only an old, run-down building that needed repair, 
and even sight-seeing was a bore. Then I began to know what 
books had given to me. That's one of the reasons why I stay in 
the army. I have time and books to read, and then I can see 
some of the places that are associated with big events and won- 
derful people. History's pretty wonderful, isn't it?" 



What is the "Y" doing for the boys? Or is it doing any- 
thing? There is an average of six hundred men in the hut daily, 
out of a possible thousand. At the beginning of the month they 
are buying, eating, eating, buying; toward the end of the month 
they are "mooching" a bit off each other if possible, but mostly 
"sitting." They don't miss a trick either. Every word and action 
of the "Y" girls is noticed by watchful eyes — eyes used to judging 
by different standards of a different world, perhaps a reforma- 
tory world, or a prison one, or a homeless one, or just a plain, evil 
one. How carefully every flippant, joking word must be weighed. 

How much good can we do them? My conclusion is much 
good. In this short time I have seen two boys who were rough 
beyond description quiet down, aim for higher ideals, strive for 
gentlemanly conduct, because that ideal was stressed. "You've 

22 




''^n^ 



I 



? 



The Soldiers' Library, Once a Prussian Officers' Club 




The Favorite Cafe of the 6th Field Artillery 




The Hospital Library 




Christmas at Fort Constantine 




The "Y" Athletic Field on Carnival Island 




The Festhalle, Used by 3,000 Men a Day 




A "Y" Window in Fort Ehrknbreitstein 




The Army Church at Andernach 



set nie to thinking," one boy who was planning an escapade an- 
nounced. "I've got a mother back home and I guess I don't want 
to worry her." 

"Say, don't be blue," one lad urged. "Be like Becky. I just 
heard her say to a guy who said he had something to tell, 'Oh, 
I know it's something nice !' " Do you think they miss anything ? 
Decidedly not. 

Tonight a boy said, "I've got a white pass, but I don't want 
to go to Coblenz." Others have said the same thing. Where 
would they go if the "Y" wasn't warm and inviting and whole- 
some? "Wouldn't nearly so many boys come here if you-all 
weren't so nice and jolly," a boy delighted us by saying. It's our 
job, you see, and we do want to make good on it. 

PAY DAY 

[Every hut secretary in Germany lived through a season of 
depression after each pay day. The experience in Germany 
proves, if proof were needed, that something more than athletics 
and healthful entertainment and interesting occupation and artis- 
tic club rooms are needed to keep men steady. In one hut where 
the men were holding a contest of original cartoons the one greeted 
by the men as sardonically true to their life was that entitled "Pay 
Day," representing the gate of the compound, a long line of 
"frauleins" filling the rest of the picture. The following para- 
graphs taken from different reports perhaps show the day at its 
worst, for often it meant nothing more apparent to the visitor 
than the absence from the hut of a great part of the men and 
their return somewhat shamed faced a week later.] 

Pay day always brings its problems just as it does in every 
American factory or mill-town, because many men have neither 
learned to save their money nor spend it wisely. The rapid fall 
in the value of the mark has increased the problem since a private 
soldier exchanging his dollars gets more marks than a German 
bank president. Generally speaking, the conduct of the men is 
fine in spite of the fact that they occasionally drink more than 
they should. If a drunken man comes into a hut, as sometimes 
happens, the soldiers present are alert and tactful in taking care 
of him and in protecting the "Y" girls from any disagreeable 
incidents. While it is always disheartening to see a soldier drunk 
who is really a splendid man at heart with fine possibilities, it is 
also encouraging to know that usually the man who has been 
drunk comes the next day and apologizes for his slip. The Asso- 
ciation is meeting keener and keener competition from German 

23 



cinema and vaudeville houses and other amusement features 
where films and acts that are rather questionable are used to draw 
the soldiers. The admission to these attractions amounts in 
marks to hardly more than the cost of a postage stamp. At the 
German cafes soldiers are given credit both for meals and liquor. 
Yet the huts continue to be as popular as ever without lowering in 
the least the standard of the movies or vaudeville and without ex- 
tending credit to soldiers at any time. 



We noticed a more than usual scarcity of boys after last 
pay day. Ordinarily they come to the canteen to eat whether they 
remain in the hut or not, but what with the exchange so much in 
their favor and pay day following right on the heels of the fall 
maneuvers and the review for General Pershing, they all prom- 
ised themselves a celebration. It was not until the second week 
in the month that we began doing the business we ordinarily do 
the first week. We got through pay day with only one distress- 
ing incident although that one was quite the worst we have ever 
had. Three boys much intoxicated came to the canteen and one 
of them was rude to the "Y" girl serving him. He was told to 
put down his tray and leave the canteen, whereupon a fourth lad 
who was intoxicated but who had been behaving very well, chal- 
lenged the other drunk to a fight because he had been rude. The 
secretary turned her attention to preventing the fight and had 
just about succeeded when still another drunk came in. He also 
felt it his duty to take up the cudgels in her behalf and challenged 
the oflfender. By that time a fight was inevitable as there were 
five hopelessly intoxicated men involved and the secretary, at best, 
could disengage only one at a time. Some boys who had been 
having a quiet game of pool decided it was time to interfere. 
They pushed them all outside and told them to go to it. Of 
course one of them got a bloody nose immediately, in fact he was 
quite knocked out, which had the effect of sobering them all. We 
don't encourage drunks in our huts at all and we feel that we 
have surprisingly little disorder in proportion to the number of 
men we serve but we never know what a pay day may bring forth. 



The last pay day was rather a bad one from the standpoint 
of the number of drunks seen in the hut, and many men whom we 
had never before seen in that condition, in fact the very men who 
seemed to most enjoy the privileges of the "Y" "stepped out." 
The only way we can account for this fact is that they wanted to 
have what they call "one last real time" before going on the long 
maneuvers and no one seemed to care how soon his money was 

24 



spent. It was discouraging to us and more so because there 
seems to be no idea on the part of most of those men that there is 
anything wrong in it. We feel that this battle against drinking is 
the very biggest problem we have to deal with and almost impos- 
sible at times to cope with. Many men have expressed their 
desire to return to America just to get away from this temptation 
over here, which constantly surrounds them. 

SUNDAYS 

As for services, you just never can tell. Tonight, it was 
unusually hot in the hut. H. was not to be there and I was rather 
dubious as to the service — especially the singing — for I sing too 
little to lead, and H. sings so well. Usually as seven-thirty, church 
time, draws nigh the crowd gets slimmer and slimmer, but some- 
how tonight, they kept on playing cards, etc. How I wished the 
speaker would arrive. But it was not until quarter of eight that 
the "Y" car with speaker and soloist, drew up. And the movies 
were to be at quarter past eight. Well, the speaker arrived — and 
most of the men left ! However, some did not go far — just to the 
door-step. I went out to caution them not to be noisy and added, 
"But I wish you'd come in." Suddenly they burst out "Let's all 
go in !" And they all filed in, twenty-eight, some of our regulars, 
— though our regulars are rather irregular — and some who had 
never been to a service before. Even though it was hot and time 
for the movies they listened with no restlessness. The soloist, 
Herr Huth, was much appreciated. I wondered if the speaker's 
very quiet way of talking was not perhaps one reason of his ef- 
fectiveness. As to singing! Thank goodness they needed no 
leader ! They just sang. But perhaps next Sunday we will have 
only five men for the service. You can never tell. 



On Sunday we began our religious services. The attendance 
is small but we have never met with such attention and such har- 
mony. Each man enters into the responsive reading and prayers 
— one man requesting on the first day that we be sure to have 
the Lord's Prayer as he knew that. They have wanted to sing 
every verse of the hymns. We have had more and more discus- 
sions on books, world events, music, just as a family group at 
home would discuss these things. Opinions and ideas very worth 
while are brought out and certainly show that our men can think 
and do. We have many pleasant gatherings around the piano — in 
fact practically every night, and we do not sing rag-time and jazz 
either. 

25 



Our Sunday services are marked with a spirit of reverence, 
and where formerly one secretary policed the canteen while ser- 
vices were in progress in the adjoining room, now that necessity 
is done away with. Those that attend come because they desire to 
and really enjoy it. The secretaries have found a ready response 
which is most helpful, particularly when the *'Y" girl herself has 
to conduct the service, the most trying ordeal in her varied ex- 
periences as a secretary. 



We took the first steps towards organizing a Bible discussion 
group last week. We decided to keep it very informal at first. 
The speaker was introduced to the boys in the recreation room 
and no attempt was made to stop their activities. The boys play- 
ing cards and reading magazines nearly all laid them down of 
their own accord and two groups who continued to play listened 
to every word and even took part in the discussion. From sixty 
to seventy-five men listened attentively for thirty-five minutes 
and responded most intelligently to the splendid man-to-man dis- 
cussion on what is essential to success in life, with emphasis laid 
on the Christian standpoint, and when asked if they would like 
to have the leader come back the following week they all shouted, 
"Sure !" We feel that we approached the thing in the only pos- 
sible way. If we had asked the men to go off in a room by them- 
selves and made it formal probably not more than a dozen men 
would have responded. Not only would they be afraid of the 
thing themselves but they would have been afraid of that dreadful 
mob spirit among these men which subjects a fellow to unmerciful 
kidding in the squad rooms if he is seen doing anything unusual, 
particularly if it is a step in the right direction. 



Last Sunday evening Chaplain Lloyd spoke. The churchly 
way in which he conducted the whole service impressed us deeply. 
He did not stoop nor attempt to make it informal nor cater in 
any way to the men. It would have done credit to a cathedral. 
This attitude seemed to create a rather unusual spirit of reverence 
and yet did not at all lift the service over the men's heads. On 
the contrary, many went up to the chaplain at the close of the 
service and have since spoken to us of how much they appreciated 
it all. In the past at times, the thought of a religious service and 
all it involves in a hut has almost terri(^^'d us and we found it 
necessary to make it as informal as possible at first. But now 
every man knows that this hour is given over to worship once a 
week and what is expected of him as a participant in the service. 
There has been no camouflage but we now feel that the time has 

26 



come when these services should have the best that we can give 
them in every respect and we mean to lend every aid to give the 
service this spirit of dignity and hoHness. 



The old gardener of the village is coming today to begin 
setting out plants and preparing flower beds, and we expect to 
have a few blooms by Easter. Also we expect the Easter rabbit 
to visit us, and the chaplain is planning an excellent Easter sermon. 
By the way, the chaplain is certainly a convincing speaker, and it 
is a pity the army at this particular post isn't required to respond 
to church call. There probably would be quite an increase in 
manliness among the soldiers, and an increase in their self-respect. 



The Sundays are very sweet, quiet, steadily busy days : the 
men begin coming in at nine for breakfast, some staying for the 
religious services. In the afternoon they come again and by night 
it is crowded in spite of the fact that so many men go to Andernach 
on pass. It is the only day one really gets a chance to talk to the 
men, their hours in the "Y" are so short on week-days, and yours, 
consequently, so full, that you don't get time. 

For the past few days I had been talking to the men about a 
wonderful rock formation I had just discovered only about fifteen 
minutes' walk from Wehr — great masses of rock, evidently left 
by some great upheaval in past geological ages. I went to the 
monks' library at Maria Laach as soon as I discovered the rocks, 
for literature on them so that I could make them more interesting, 
but, alas, I was not allowed inside and had to talk to the Brother 
through a tiny barred window. But he is going to mail me the 
information about the rocks. On Sunday after lunch I was going 
to "conduct a hike" to the rocks, but as most of the men who were 
interested had gone to Andernach over Saturday and Sunday, my 
crowd was two boys, the elder, a clean, straight, silent sort of 
fellow about twenty-three, the other the merest boy, just sixteen, 
with the sweet, clear eyes of a little lad. I had been attracted to 
them by the way in which the elder was always looking out for 
the younger. It was at a casino game that I first noticed him and 
I had said : "You remind me of a boy at home," and he, in a would- 
be-very-blase manner said: "Aw, onit yer kiddin'," whereupon I 
said: "You look so much like my own little twelve year old 
nephew that I'm going to call you Bobbie," and instead of resent- 
ing the twelve year old part, he was at heart still such a little 
boy that he just beamed at having found me and loves my calling 
him Bobbie. So he and the big, grave fellow, who is so wonder- 
fully taking the place of his family, and I, went to the rocks. We 

27 



came to a most lovely part, where the dense spruce opened into 
a perfect idyll of a little valley. I started to quote some bit of 
frivolous nonsense when both of those boys began reciting the 
twenty-third Psalm and we all recited it together. But how it 
"beat me standing" — those lads thinking of that wonderful psalm, 
while I had thought of mere nonsense. The help does not always 
come from our side of the counter ! 



But to return to Christmas Eve, after the show everybody 
came back to the hut, which remained open until half past eleven. 
The canteen was closed, but we served coffee to all comers. The 
front rooms were full of men waiting for the midnight service, 
and there was impromptu music followed by the singing of 
Christmas carols. How they love to sing! Poor little Miss S. 
had played carols and hymns and old songs in every spare moment 
for three days, and until she could scarcely bend her arms. She 
said she hated to stop, the men said it "seemed so like home." 
Chaplain Smith's midnight service was held in the old Gothic army 
church, with tall trees massed against the stone walls, and the 
chancel and pulpit hung with American flags. There were a 
quartette, our orchestra, and a beautiful violin solo by one of the 
sergeants. The church was crowded to the doors and the congre- 
gational singing of the carols was impressive. Many of us will 
always remember the salute of the trumpeters to the colors and 
the recessional, when, with the Chaplain, and bearing the Stars 
and Stripes and the church banner, the trumpeters passed down the 
aisle, followed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with their col- 
ors. Not since the war have the church and the flag been so 
associated in our hearts. 

ODD JOBS 

Honeymoon Special 

In our wildest thoughts of the unexpected in a casual camp 
we never imagined all that might happen. The month of May 
has brought the very last in surprises. We have had one hun- 
dred and seventy-five wives of enlisted men and eighty babies in 
quarantine before being sent to the United States. They are an 
all-European product, English, Belgian, Polish, Russian, Italian, 
French, and German, a great percentage being the latter. 

The barracks in the compound where the hut is located was 
reserved for the women and babies. The hut became a hostess 
house for their use all day. Here husbands and friends could 
meet them from two to four-thirty daily. During these hours 

28 



Germans came in daily to visit. Each afternoon there was some 
sort of entertainment. The 6th Field Artillery band played sev- 
eral days, Headquarters band one day, and the Association staged 
boxing matches and put on vaudeville shows. Each evening there 
were moving pictures. 

The stage was transformed into an infirmary where physical 
examinations were made. An army nurse and a doctor were on 
duty at all times and made the hut their headquarters. For this 
reason it was necessary to keep open day and night. The rest 
room was put to all sorts of service. Indeed it was almost the 
center of the depot used constantly by the numerous officials 
because of the telephone. One day it was the scene of a unique 
wedding. A soldier who had married a Polish woman two years 
ago in Poland had lost his marriage papers, so the ceremony had 
to be repeated before they could return to the States. 

Instead of giving out lunches at the compound when the 
Honeymoon Special left for Antwerp the last task was to place 
a bag of lunch on each bed in the hospital train for the wives 
and children and in the compartments for the men, and then it 
must be confessed the secretaries went back thankfully to their 
usual work with full-grown American soldiers. 

Field Work 

The shooting season is on. For nearly a month the machine 
gunners of the Second Brigade have been camped beside a little 
creek in the barley fields of Plaidt. With three streets of squad- 
tents, three big army kitchens, officers' row, infirmary, and ever- 
present guardhouse, the camp is a city unto itself. Off to the 
right are the six hundred and one thousand meter targets ranged 
along the hillside ; and to the left, in the town of Plaidt, is the hut. 

Its service was never more needed nor more appreciated than 
during these first days. Practically no work could be done on the 
range because of bad weather. The camp was wet and muddy, cold 
and disagreeable. To know that in the "Y" hut there were two 
roaring fires, plenty of magazines and games, a good supply of just 
the food the soldiers liked, and a willing friend to look after their 
comfort, meant everything to the men just then. They came to 
the hut as soon as it was opened and stayed until it closed at ten. 
During those first few days of bad weather they got the habit of 
spending their spare time there so that later, when they were kept 
on the range all afternoon, they came as soon as they were free 
and played games or wrote letters until time for the movies. 

There were movies every night except once when a soldier 
show from the station hospital came out to us. The film which 

29 



the men most enjoyed was the one of these soldiers themselves in 
camp, showing their everyday life, in the mess line, on the range 
firing the machine guns, marching by companies, and at the hut. 
This picture, advertised a day in advance, was a great drawing- 
card. Every officer and man — except the necessary guards — was 
at the hut that night to see himself in the movies. 

The Rifle Range 

Little Wehr of the rifle ranges was no beautifully planned 
hut, but ministered to all just by using materials at hand. The 
material in this case was the inevitable hall attached to the largest 
"wirtschaft" in every German village. How many times have we 
thanked our stars that these stolid folk are gregarious when it 
comes to taking their beer. In almost every village you can find 
a hall often out of all proportion to the size of the village. That in 
Wehr is up a flight of steps in the rear of the parent *'wirtschaft." 
It is bright and airy and has many windows, half of which open 
out on the beautiful gardens of the priest's house opposite, and 
this in a way offsets the populous stables almost directly under- 
neath. The walls are marvelous — sky-blue with large medallions 
in which are painted the castles on the Rhine and the Mosel. ''All 
hand made 'n everything," the men say. "Ain't they wonderful? 
I'll say they are !" They serve a double purpose. They certainly 
decorate, all set in sky-blue with a border underneath of fat pink 
roses in a chocolate background, and they lead to many discussions 
of the castles themselves, the old robber barons, and far-ofT days. 

Work at a range is different from straight canteening, for 
the men are more or less on a field basis and we served in the 
mornings in a tent down on the range. Every morning at ten 
up came a big army wagon and two mule-skinners, to load us and 
our wares and drive to the field. The men had early breakfast 
and even before we could unload a good-natured line would form 
and then how they would eat ! It wasn't "What kind of pie have 
you today?" and "When were those cinnamon rolls baked?" It 
was "I want some pie and as many cinnamon rolls as you can 
spare. I sure am hunorv." It was more like picnicking than work, 
and we reduced the packing and unpacking to a system. Often 
after we closed we would drive across to the Sprudels, the bub- 
bling mineral springs which always fascinate me. The big, slow- 
going mules, the high seat in the huge wagon, the little field road 
winding across the meadow filled with flowers, the dear clean 
little wind, always blowing, made one feel one's very soul had 
been up with the larks, which are always singing at little Wehr. 

30 



When you are in the field, movies are your one and best form 
of entertainment. We have them every night and every night the 
hall is crowded and we are glad, for as the meadow is full of 
flowers so the village is full of "wirtschafts." I have never seen 
such a lot of letter writing. The tables are always full and the 
men write even during movies — some man will be close up to the 
crack under the curtain, using the light, and I let him be, letters 
mean so much back home. When you live, move, and have your 
being, only I think I shall paraphrase that and say "when you live, 
be, and have your movies," all in the same room, you learn in- 
formality. You try to let the men writing write as long as possible, 
the men reading read as long as possible, to get them all fed, and 
the movies on and off again, and the men back to camp in time, and 
you find it keeps you busy. 

The "Pittsburgh" and the "Sands" 

Early in July, the "Pittsburgh" and the "Sands" came into 
Antwerp with about one thousand men. From the day of their 
arrival there was a record attendance at the hut. B. put extra 
effort into her already famous meals and it was not long before 
the gobs were flocking to the canteen for real home cooking. 
Where they put all the food no one knows, for an ordinary order 
was "Steak, four eggs, potatoes, rolls, vegetables, salad, straw- 
berry shortcake, and ice cream. Yes, two scoops, please !" From 
five o'clock to ten thirty or later the hungry sailors came, and 
after everything else was gone we heard, "Well then, give me 
six eggs !" While the dinner rush was on in the canteen, the floor 
of the hut was covered with dancers. The latter part of the visit 
white uniforms appeared and a more picturesque cool-looking 
crowd was nowhere to be found. 

Was their two weeks' visit strenuous? We'll say it was! 
But we felt more than repaid for our efforts when several of the 
boys told us that they had never been treated so well in any port 
and they hoped they would find a "Y" at their next stop. The 
following is part of a letter received from one of the Pittsburghers : 

"I want to thank you most sincerely for the very fine times 
you and the others connected with the *Y' at Antwerp afforded 
us during our short visit there. You certainly did make us all 
feel at home, and how well I should like to have remained longer. 
After all, the work of the Association is quite wonderful, isn't it? 
I sometimes hear some of our boys depreciate the good it is sup- 
posed to do but I am very certain if a hut was to be found in each 
port we make we would have a better, cleaner, and more efficient 
crew in every respect. I am just sure of this." 

31 



In the midst of the many disappointments and discourage- 
ments there occasionally comes something to put new heart into 
the work and to make us feel that perhaps, after all, our efforts 
are not fruitless. Our soldiers are markedly selfish and it often 
seems to us that as time goes on they become more so. During 
the two weeks that the sailors were with us, however, our hearts 
were cheered by the unselfish attitude of our boys. They were 
always most willing to help and direct the visitors, and in the 
canteen were ready to stand aside and wait patiently until the 
others had been served. At the dances, of course, there was only 
a handful of girls, but they willingly played the part of host, and 
the khaki uniforms among the dancers were few and far between. 
It is little incidents like these that cheer us and make us feel that, 
little as we may see it, our work is bringing results. 

The Interallied Meet 

For three days in July, 1921, the most successful interallied 
track and field meet in the history of the Rhineland was held in 
Coblenz. Athletes representing the British, French, and Belgian 
armies competed with the men of the A F G. The meet, which 
was promoted by the Association, under the supervision of Cap- 
tain L. S. Gerow, welfare officer, A F G, was in all its details 
most successfully conducted. The Americans won by a score of 
two hundred and nine points, against one hundred and six points 
won by the French army, fifty-nine by the British, and thirty-eight 
by the Belgian. The Allied athletes were billeted in the Falcken- 
stein casual depot. The Association kept its hut at that point 
open for the use of the men, serving ice cream and lemonade free 
in the afternoon when the athletes returned from the track, and in 
the evening giving them moving-picture programs. 

There were in the compound British, Belgians, French, Al- 
gerians, Moroccans, and Americans. The friendly spirit among the 
representatives of the various armies was most wonderful. Even 
the pure negroes in the uniform of French Colonials kept their 
places beautifully and took in good part quite a bit of chaffing. 
An Arab from the Colonials even played weird music, full of 
dissonances, on a three-stringed instrument without being thrown 
out by the Americans who failed to enjoy it. 

An amazing thing was the way in which the French, Bel- 
gians, and Colonials caught immediately the Association idea of 
the position of the American women. One expected the British to 
understand, but not these other Europeans. One of the Belgians 
explained that we were the "sisters of the men." They were all 
respectful, courteous and grateful. 

32 



As soon as the men came back from the athletic field, they 
rushed headlong into the hut. Since the weather was warm we 
had liberal supplies of lemonade and ice cream on hand. They 
all said "We like your ice cream." The Red Cross gave us cigar- 
ettes in quantities and it is easy to realize how much that meant 
to men from countries where tobacco is high. 

Yesterday a French adjutant-in-chief came in. In the course 
of his conversation he said the French soldiers had received beau- 
tiful treatment and were quite content; that the hut was a fine 
place ; the soldiers would not go to town and drink ; they pre- 
ferred staying in the *'Y." 

This morning I happened to be in the station when the English 
and Belgians were entraining. They were all expressing their 
happiness and gratitude for the hospitality they had received. 
Then one young soldier, speaking for all the Belgians, said, **We 
thank very much the 'Y'," and added much more in his not quite 
perfect English. They were all repeating "Merci, merci!" and 
"Come to Belgium with us." 

But the most graceful thanks of all were given us by the 
British. Their sergeant-major spoke for the crowd. He said 
that he wanted to thank us for what the "Y" had done for them 
all ; that each and every man wanted his gratitude expressed ; that 
their treatment had been beyond compare. Every man stood at 
attention during this speech. When he had finished we told them 
how happy we had been to have them with us, and how thoroughly 
we had enjoyed extending hospitality to them. Then one soldier 
said "Let's give three cheers for the Y M C A," and they stood 
there in the station and gave three of the most rousing cheers 
that old place or any other had ever heard. 

The comment of the American contestants was less direct but 
equally appreciative. "It's so near the end of the month, I'm 
awful gl?d you're puttin' out !" 

PARTIES 

We ushered the month in by giving a May-day tea which was 
quite a festive affair, although it could not be accompanied by a 
maypole or dance or other observances of the day. A picnic 
would have been appropriate but was out of the question because 
of the size of our family. We did take our tables and chairs out 
in the yard under the trees. Touches of company manners always 
appear when tea is served with just a bit of formality. 

A Mother's Day tea was the second social occasion of the 
month. This was very simple. White and pink carnations were 

33 



used for the decorations but we could not get enough to give to 
each guest. The Mother's Day programs and post cards were 
distributed throughout the day, and judging by the overflow of 
the mail box, I should say every soldier sent his card and program 
home. The evening service was based on the day. Special 
music was furnished and a talk was given by the secretary. 

Tuesday, we had an old-fashioned party. First came en- 
thusiastic singing. They all "let out" on the songs. Before they 
were tired of singing, games started and without pause or hesita- 
tion or waiting for participants, the hilarity continued until ten 
o'clock. Those who couldn't get into the games were eager spec- 
tators. We counted the party a great success, and the secretary 
from headquarters a skillful and clever leader. 



The second "Battle of the States," which took place the last 
social evening in July, was a great success. Practically every man 
in the hut came forward when the discussion was ready to begin 
and for nearly one and a half hours it was hot and exciting. The 
shy ones who would not volunteer a word when their state was 
called for, found their tongues and gathered ready but till then 
dormant wits to combat the claims of rival states. Various small 
groups, whose voices could not be heard in the crowd, fought it 
out among themselves, and bets were made that night in settlement 
of certain disputes, which were to be paid the following pay day. 
The soldier will gamble on and over anything. They are always 
ready to argue and if an interesting and constructive subject is 
offered they will readily enter in, provided it is discussed in an 
informal way. The mere idea of a formal debate would terrify 
most of them. 



Our picture contest lasted a week. We called for contribu- 
tions of original drawings for the bulletin board and met a ready 
response in the form of some sixty sketches. The first thing the 
men did on entering the hut was to aim for the board to see if any 
new pictures had been added. The subjects were varied and were 
always clean, ranging from cartoons on incidents in the hut, which 
were very apt, original, and funny, to German castles and life in 
general in the Rhineland. Two of the most original and amusing 
were cartoons of two of the "Y" girls giving a speech in the 
theatre regarding "spitting tobacco juice" on the floor and "bawl- 
ing out" the men around the pool table for writing their score in 
chalk on the table. Not a point was missed in these two sketches 
from life and we fancy our end was gained better through these 
pictures by the men than by our speeches. Through this contest 

34 



we discovered five men with real talent and feel that through this 
they may be started on something worth while. We have a corner 
in a back room where they may sketch undisturbed and we en- 
courage them in every way to make something of this talent. 



We celebrated the Fourth of July in true American style. 
Starting at nine o'clock in the morning, we had continuous pro- 
grams at Coblenz, Andernach, and Mayen, so that any soldier or 
American civilian wishing to take part had only to go to one of 
these centers to be royally entertained, with everything that goes 
to make up a real Fourth of July back in the States, beginning 
with old-fashioned games and athletic sports, such as three-legged 
races, bag races, obstacle races, pie eating contests, climbing the 
pole, chasing the pig. These were followed by baseball. Boxing 
was held in the late afternoon. Vaudeville and moving-picture 
shows filled the evening till ten o'clock when came the climax of 
the whole celebration, a fireworks display, which far exceeded 
that of last year. 



Our Hallowe'en party was a big success. We had decorated 
the whole hut with witches, cats, and goblins. The men helped 
us and they had the best time cutting out things and putting them 
on the wall and they had many original ideas. We had not adver- 
tised our party as we had encouraged our men to go to the big one 
at the Festhalle, thinking it would be a change for them. We 
planned, however, to get some favors, caps, squeakers, and other 
things to make some fun for the stay-at-homes. The two secreta- 
ries dressed up as gypsies and surprised the men completely. They 
passed around caps and other favors and soon had everyone in- 
terested. The boys had a glorious time diving for apples or rather 
pushing in those who were really trying to get them. We started 
with a dish-pan of water but ended with a tub and even that 
wasn't deep enough to satisfy the ever-zealous "soldat." We 
played many of the old games such as fruit-basket; spin the 
plate; beast, bird or fish; and we were surprised at the number 
of men who stayed at home. The hut was crowded and they 
surely enjoyed themselves. After all, they are just youngsters. 



We shall probably never think again of November without 
thinking of Armistice Day, and in the army and the **Y" huts 
this is especially true. Our hut, like all the others, was open all 
day. At twelve o'clock one of the buglers blew the call "Atten- 
tion" and at the expiration of two minutes, he blew "Taps." 
During the two minutes all of the soldiers in the hut and the **Y" 

35 



personnel stood at attention and I think it is safe to say that 
without exception they were all really praying. The day was not 
an ordinary holiday but one that seemed to bring home to the 
men the events that led up to the armistice and the significance of 
the day. Their minds seemed to dwell on it and they were un- 
usually quiet, and if they talked at all, it was about that. 



How the busy December days have been spent in the Ant- 
werp hut may perhaps best be told by the following translation 
of an article that appeared the day after Christmas in **Le Matin," 
an Antwerp newspaper : 

'Tt was through a very kind thought that the American 
Base held a wonderful party yesterday afternoon in honor of 
the orphans and abandoned children. 

**The secretaries had devoted their time to making this 
ray of Christmas sunshine for the unhappy little ones. The 
master-sergeant, chairman of the committee, had collected a 
large sum among the American officers, civilians at the Base, 
and the Graves Registration Service. 

''About five hundred orphans met at the Base at two 
o'clock and were served a sumptuous meal. There was a 
movie — what a wonderful movie — Charlie, king of laughter, 
brought joy to the souls of all the children. Tw^o negro per- 
formers — Oh ! what wonderful negroes — entertained with 
jazz music, dances, and funny songs. Finally Father Christ- 
mas arrived, dressed in his legendary costume and distribut- 
ing toys, no less than four hundred, warm gloves, and muf- 
flers, and giving to each child a stocking filled with bonbons. 
Oh ! wonderful Father Christmas ! 

*'At six o'clock the children went away laughing and 
shouting with their pure young voices, 'Long live America.' 
"Thank you, dear friends and allies, for the charming 
festivity and touching thought, in short for all that you have 
done for the poor victims of a war which you have so sub- 
stantially helped to bring to its close." 
This party was given by the men themselves in every sense 
of the word. They furnished their share of the money, in many 
cases pledging the amount to be paid on the coming pay day ; they 
shopped for the presents in Coblenz, where money goes farther 
than it does in Antwerp ; they cut, sewed, and filled the stockings ; 
they decorated the hut and trimmed the tree; they helped serve 
the supper and furnished the music ; they played with the children 
and showed them how to make the automobiles and toy tanks run 
and for days afterward we heard: 

36 



"Did you see that little fellow's face when Butler (Santa 
Claus) came out of the fire-place?" 

"Well, we've given those kids something to think about for a 
long time." 

"I guess when those boys grow up to be soldiers they'll know 
who their friends are." 

To the question: "What did you think of our Christmas 
party?" we always heard the same answer, expressed in different 
ways: "It was great — and didn't those kids have a good time." 
All of which goes to prove that "It is more blessed to give than 
to receive." 



The great big day of the year has just come and gone. We 
believe we had the finest Christmas we have ever had in the A F G. 
It was dignified and beautiful ; the huts were extremely lovely. 
Last year many of the trees were denuded on Christmas night, 
much to the distress of the "Y" girls, but this year, so far as I 
know, no trimming on any of the trees has been disturbed and 
they are standing today intact. We believe that this is wholly due 
to the fact that in all instances the men helped with the decorat- 
ing so that they had a particular pride in maintaining their handi- 
work. They had also seen how much time and effort goes into 
the preparation for these festive days. 

In several of the compounds the commanding officers asked 
that the celebration which the soldiers were giving to the poor 
children of the region, be held in the hut. At Artillery Barracks 
the commanding officer asked the secretary if she had any objec- 
tion to having in the hut the celebration that the 6th Field Ar- 
tillery had planned for the poor children. They had expected to 
have it in the compound, but it being cold and wet, the hut was 
the only place. It was a joyous occasion and the commanding 
officer and his staff were all present while the boys handed out the 
gifts to the kiddies. The boys had wrapped up the gifts most 
carefully in red paper and red ribbons and it was all done with a 
fine sense of comradeship. 

At Infantry Barracks there was a most fascinating canteen 
which caused a great deal of amusement and delight among the 
men. The back of the canteen shelves was arranged as a little fir 
forest all covered with snow. The lower shelf had great banks of 
snow on the ground and in a little depression nestled a toy house 
with little balconies above and below. A wide path from which the 
snow had been shoveled into high mounds on either side led up 
to the little porch. A gingerbread Santa Claus leaned against 
the snow-clad roof ready to make his descent down the chimney, 

Z7 



from which came little white curls of cotton smoke. Little 
St. Nicholases were whisking about on to the left of the house 
and all sorts of amusing toy animals completed the scene. 

At Constantine the effect when the lights were turned on in 
the writing-room was like fairyland. On all the lamp shades, of 
which there are about twenty-five in this one large room, were 
sprays of the fir interspersed with silver and crystal trimmings, and 
with the Christmas tree glistening in its many colors, one could not 
wish for a more beautiful sight. They had so many windows ; 
and such lovely curtains hanging against the soft gray and buff 
walls, that the whole room lent itself marvelously to the Christmas 
scheme. 

In some way or other the story of our day here is not trans- 
latable, but of this I am convinced — that never have we had such 
a spirit as at this time. Just why, we know not. All we do know 
is that it is so. Only those who have worked in the huts on these 
days know how long and hard and strenuous the work is, but there 
was not a girl on Christmas night but felt in some way or other 
that it was all good. There was practically no drinking. The 
cafes closed on Christmas Eve at nine o'clock. The men had con- 
tributed thousands and thousands of marks for the poor children 
of Coblenz. They had been responsible for the distribution of 
food, clothing, and toys, and the glow that came from doing for 
others was reflected in the huts. 

On Christmas Eve the Carol Club with their trumpeters went 
through the city in the electric-lighted bus all decorated with 
Christmas greens. They sang for General Allen, the members of 
his staff, the station hospital, the Salvation Army, the hostess 
house, the library, at Mr. Sprenger's and Mr. Eastman's. The 
hostess house of the Young Women's Christian Association 
started the day beautifully for for us, the workers. A Christmas 
breakfast was given to all the guests of the house. Fifty-one of 
us sat down at one time and we had the harpist who is on the 
Association circuit, and the quartette that had sung the carols for 
us Christmas Eve. It was a beautiful hour and sent everybody 
off joyously for the day's work. 

THE LEAST HUT OF ALL 

What memories the little *'Y" in the valley brings to those 
who were cognizant of its presence! Tucked away in the Ahr 
valley, close to the rushing stream, looked down upon by the 
gaunt ruin of Castle Altenahr, was the "least hut of all." So 
small it was, indeed, there was grave counseling at headquarters, 

38 



when the request came from the officers for help for their hun- 
dred boys shut off in this hill-walled solitude. For one hundred 
soldiers one could not carry on a fourfold program complete. 
There certainly could not be physical and educational directors 
and religious and social secretaries, but after all, that was hardly a 
good reason for not doing what one might to help even a hundred 
men who without help were certainly not coming back to the 
United States fit to serve the country. The best that could be 
done was to open an American home, and the Association at 
Kreuzberg was that absolutely and nothing but that. This was no 
costly experiment. Whether it was worth while or not one may 
judge for one's self by the story woven from the reports of the 
secretary. 

The opening of a bottle of ink was the introduction of the 
Kreuzberg hut to the men of Company A, 16th Railway Engineers 
Battalion. Before the floor v/as cleaned on Sunday morning three 
soldiers appeared, saying they had not written home for months. 
There were many letters written that day. Our first week was 
bitter cold, the German workmen were polcy as usual, so that it 
was not a very inviting or warm place. The motion-picture hall 
was not ready, the books were delayed. About all we could do 
was to arrange a comer where the men could write and play 
checkers and when the workmen advanced to our corner move 
ourselves somewhere else. We found a friendly spirit among 
these men and a very helpful one. They continually found little 
and big things to do about the hut and did them without waiting 
to be asked. They made repairs on the poor work of the German 
carpenter. They made footstools and pokers, put the stove in 
order, painted signs, and, insisting that we must have a flag float- 
ing from the "Y," they went into the hills for a flagpole which 
they painted and set in an iron socket. They took great interest in 
watching new things appear in the hut and noticed each article. 

The owner of our house was inclined to make things un- 
pleasant at first, especially after we made him take his goat from 
our cellar. We had to get the town major before he would give 
us the keys. One day he became a bit too insolent and the soldiers 
promptly put him out and told him to stay out. We found him 
more reasonable ever after. But he stole a march on us and before 
we knew what was going on had painted a large white space on 
the side of the building. On this he assured us that no matter 
what was said to him he would have "Hotel Brodt" in large black 
letters the next morning. But by the next morning a large red 
triangle had miraculously appeared upon this convenient white 

39 



ground. No one knew how it got there but someone did know a 
soldier whose fatigue clothes were much the worse for red paint. 

Our problems, and we had more in Peaceful Valley than 
appeared on the surface, were just the usual ones a bit aggravated 
by local conditions. The barracks were three-quarters of a mile 
from the **Y" — a real drawback. The movie hall was in another 
building and over a wine shop, which was unfortunate. The men 
had been here long enough without a hut to establish credit at 
almost all the German places about. When the first group of men 
came here it was months before they ever drank water. The 
water is condemned and rather than bother to purify it they began 
the day with beer. Many of them were on too friendly footing 
with "frauleins," the "frauleins' " families making every efifort to 
have them feel at home. In spite of all these things it was in- 
finitely worth while to try to make a home for these men. From 
the stories they have told us we know there was a big oppor- 
tunity for constructive growth, however slow. 

These men were less apt to spend an entire afternoon and 
evening in the hut than in many "Y's." They came in, read and 
wrote and visited, went outdoors, strolled on the bridge, and came 
back again for an hour or so. They were unusually non-destruc- 
tive and we have never seen men so angelic about ash trays. They 
adopted immediately a most protecting and helpful spirit toward 
"the white woman of the valley." On returning from a shopping 
trip on the first day she found that the town major had brought in 
two women to help him and had furnished her bedroom and sitting 
room and hung curtains. Before the canteen was running one of 
the men, hearing her say she had no marks and deciding she was 
"broke," came quietly with a roll of money. "Now, you take this 
and go and get yourself a square meal. I always have a few marks. 

Any time you need any just you say, 'Private , come across.' " 

Her little German maid was scared into extraordinary activity by 
the threats of the men that something would happen to her if her 
mistress were not well fed, while one man, with an anxious imagi- 
nation, endowed the secretary with a troublesome husband and 
offered to "do him up" if it would give her the least satisfaction. 
Through a misunderstanding the secretary did not go to a com- 
pany dinner on one national holiday. Presently a procession came 
down the road headed by the mess sergeant, who presented a 
heavy basket. In it was a whole roasted chicken, a tiny American 
flag stuck in its breast and surrounded by lettuce and green onions, 
with cherries and chocolate for dessert. 

Out in this hamlet we could have no music at the movies, so 
we used the time between the reels to read short articles. At first 

40 



we read items from newspapers. Then we took selections from 
well-known writers — Kipling, Service, Bret Harte. The men as a 
rule made no direct comment but often borrowed the articles. They 
frequently asked what was going to be read, however, and best of 
all soon began to contribute articles which they thought would be 
of interest. We found that many would listen with interest to ar- 
ticles which they would not read themselves, indeed would not 
know existed. One man said he could not understand where we 
found our readings. *T look and look and never find anything like 
that." The showing of Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in The 
Kid meant much to the men away out here. They awaited it so 
eagerly, one man deferring his furlou^ that he might see it. 
Long before it was time to begin, the hall across the bridge, the 
hut itself, the living room and the canteen, were packed to the 
doors and the overflow had to sit on the bridge. Everyone who 
could attend was there, a minimum guard on duty being arranged 
by the officers. 

On Mother's Day we had fifty carnations and these were 
soon gone. The news spread and we were kept busy putting them 
in buttonholes. Said one man, "Please, I thank you for putting 
it on me yourself, for you American girls are the nearest thing 
v/e have to mothers." I believe there was hardly a man who did 
not write home on the cards sent out and enclose a Mother's Day 
program. We made a special bulletin board for the festival and 
there were men about it all day long. To several men who wore 
white carnations we offered our mother and they seemed only too 
glad to sit down and write to her. We had the hut filled with 
flowers and one man came in and said he knew it was against the 
rules to bring in Germans but could he please bring a young lady 
in just for a moment so that she could see the flowers. One 
could see that he loved flowers and when he brought the girl in 
he pointed out each blossom caressingly and then with an air of 
pride and possession he pointed out everything else. 

If one should take the best that a man does by which to 
judge him, one should surely take the best day of the year by 
which to judge this work and this, of course, was Christmas Day. 
The men entered early into the holiday spirit. They helped to 
decorate the hut as well as their own messhall. Every available 
space and some unavailable they filled with greens, holly, and 
mistletoe. They brought in a small tree and decorated it. For 
this we had real old-fashioned candles and each night the men lit 
that tree. Bright-colored stockings were made and labeled, one 
for each man, and filled with nuts and candy and a nonsense toy. 
After the hut closed on Christmas Eve the officers themselves 

41 



came and hung the ninety stockings, ready to surprise the men 
Christmas morning. The company had had its Christmas dinner 
on Saturday, the day before Chistmas, and at two o'clock in the 
messhall the men had their Christmas tree for the two hundred 
children of the village. The tree bore a gift for every child. 
Afterward we had a movie for them, the men helping through 
this exciting occasion. The room could hardly have held another 
child. Most of them had never seen a movie and their amazement 
and delight were touching. At our Christmas service even the 
guard-house guests were allowed to come down. The men chose 
many hymns as well as wanting to sing all the carols, and besides 
the Christmas story we read "The Other Wise Man." Then all 
of Sunday afternoon we kept open house, just a nice family party, 
winding up in the evening with a movie. It was a real Christmas, 
filled with the true Christmas spirit. 



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